I'm instructing a navigation course tomorrow and obviously on of the things covered will be the basic use of a compass ... it got me thinking, how many people actually carry a compass? I have a tiny silva one that lives on my handlebars but hardly ever take a full size baseplate affair with me.

Anyone else?

Always have done, never use it, but the day I leave it behind.....

Remembering how to use it properly is another thing....

I have a tiny silva one that lives on my handlebars

Is that the same one that doesn't point north due to metal interference?



Don't usually carry one with me, tbh. Don't often find myself in place with very poor visability where I can't just use a map to figure out where I am

Always carry one but it's never been used to this day and hopefully it'll stay that way.

Yes, I have one on my watch that seems really accurate but like Ian usually can find my way on a ma, if it's dark I'll be asleep so I cant see the bears

Is that the same one that doesn't point north due to metal interference?

Have you never seen Pirates of the Caribbean? ... they don't all point north

if i'm taking a map i do.

I've noticed on trips to wales that it's easier to locate yourself on a map due to 'big features', in the flat south sometimes you can need to orientate the map before you have any chance of locating yourself.

Good point Thom.

I remember once getting a bit lost on Monk's Trod and in all directions were rounded hills and no visible summits anywhere. I couldn't work out how far off the actual track I was and in which direction. In end I managed to see a building I could identify on the OS map, from which I could take a bearing and establish I was somewhere along a line draw at whatever degrees from that feature.

In the days since GPS of course, the need for a compass lessens provided your batteries don't go flat.

Have you never seen Pirates of the Caribbean? ... they don't all point north

No, I haven't. I have a compass in my car actually, which is handy for all sorts of reasons you wouldn't appreciate until you've tried one. If you drive down the M4 past Port Talbot steel works it spins round in circles :?